Electric lighter



Dec. 11, 1934. M SORENG 1,983,645

ELECTRIC LIGHTER Filed Jan. 2, 1951 V Tlimiimmmm/ Patented Dec. 11, 1934UNITED STATES.

PATENT OFFICE ELECTRIC LIGHTER 11]., a. corporation of Soreng-Manegold00. tion of Illinois Application January 2,

3 Claims.

Thisinvention relates in general to electric lighters provided for thelighting of cigars, ciga-- rettes, etc.,.and to electric heating unitsor assemblies. adapted for use in cigar and cigarette lighters and forother'uses, and the invention has for animportant object the-provisionof an electric cigar orcigarette lighter and unit of economicalconstruction and adapted to automatically complete the heatingcircuitupon merely inverting the lighter or unit from a normal inoperativeposition of rest to a position exposing the heating coil for use.

The invention contemplates the provision of a body having a supportingbase in which or through which the lighting unit proper is arranged withthe electric circuit normally interruptedas the lighter rests betweenperiods of use upontable, desk,'or other support, and which may bemerely lifted and inverted to present the heatingcoil and its protectingmica or similar disc-,for use. with automatic completion of the lightingor heating circuit.

The-invention has for its particular purpose the provision of a lighterunit having this simple automatic action, the partsof which will be ofsimple, durable construction and capable of manufacture at low-cost.

Another important object of the invention is the provision of a lighterof the character described,-.which may be constructed of a simple,molded body and an active heating .unit easily insertable thereinto inpermanent fixed relation.

Anotherimportant object of the invention is the provision of a lighterunit having a gravity control heating circuitcompleting member, thepartsof which may be cheaply manufactured and easily assembled.

Numerous other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparentas it is better understood from the following description, which, taken40 in connection with the accompanying drawing,

discloses a preferred embodiment thereof.

Referring to the drawing:

Figure 1 is a transverse vertical section through the body of thelighter, the unit being shown in elevation, the arrangement of the partsbeing that assumed between periods of use and while the lighter isresting upon a table, desk or other support.

"Fig. 2 is a similar view, showing the lighter inverted into positionfor use;

Fig. 3 is a bottom plan view of the lighter;

Fig. 4 is a. transverse, horizontal section, taken just beneath thespring member or arms which retain the lighter member in the body; and

Illinois, and one-half to Chicago llL, a corpora- 1931, Serial No.506,082

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary section showing said spring member or arms inholding relation with the lighter body.

For the purpose of illustrating my invention, I have shown on thedrawing a cigar or cigarette lighter in which it is embodied. Thislighter comprises a body 11 preferably of molded opaque glass andprovided with legs 12 which constitute a support for the lighter. Thebody is provided internally with a recess 13 extending up from the undersurface to provide a pocket for the lighter unit generally indicated byreference character 14. The body also is provided with a side recess 15in which may be arranged the electric cord or conduit 16 for supplyingcurrent from the ordinary house lighting system through the usual plug17 adapted to be inserted into a wall socket of usual construction.

The lighter unit 14 comprises, in the present embodiment of theinvention, a cylindrical body part 18 which is provided with an enlargedintegral head 19. The cylindrical body 18 and the head 19 are ofporcelain or other insulating material and the head 19 is provided witha recess 21 adapted to contain a high resistance electric heating coil22 disposed over the lower or exposed face of the head 19 and at itsends electrically connected to conductor posts or rods 23 and 24, as maybe observed in Fig. 3. A protecting disc 25 of mica or other suitablematerial is arranged over the heating coil 22. This disc is providedwith the usual openings 26 to permit contact of the cigar or cigarettewith the heating coil and this disc is held in place by a flange collar27 embracing the head 19.

The conductor post or rod 23 is eccentrically arranged in the lighterbody 18 and is electrically connected to an embracing metal collar 28disposed about the body 18. This collar is electrically connected at 29to one of the wires 31 of the conductor or conduit 16.

The conductor post or rod 24 extends through the insulating body 18 andis slidably embraced therebeyond by a gravity member or weight 32. Theweight 32 normally rests upon a nut 33 threaded on the post or rod 24and in such position the lighting or heating circuit is interrupted.

A bracket 34 is carried by the body or carrier 18 and upon insulatingbushings 35 and 36 disposed about the rod 24. The bracket 34 extendslaterally from the bushings 35 and 36 as indicated at 37 and thenceupwardly to an overhanging flange 38 arranged for engagement with theweight or gravity member 32 when the lighter is inverted, from theposition shown in Fig. 1 to that shown in Fig. 2. The second wire 39 ofthe conductor or conduit 16 is soldered or otherwise secured to thebracket 34 at 41. The overhanging flange 38 preferably terminates shortof the axis of the post 24 so-that upon inversion of the unit or lighterthis fiange engages the presented face of the weight 32 near or merelyinwardly of its end. Thus engaged the weight is tilted and firm contactbetween both the flange 38 and the rod 24 is insured to complete theelectric circuit.

A wedging spring member 42, which may be of Steel and of the leaf springform shown in the drawing, is arranged to hold the lighter unitpermanently in place within the body 11. In the preferred embodiment ofthe invention, this spring member is flat and has a length somewhatgreater than the diameter or width of the recess 13. It is provided witha central aperture 43 adapted toreceive the rod 24 and is preferablyarranged between the insulating bushing 35 and a nut 44 on the rod 24.

In the manufacture of the lighter, the lighter unit is preferably firstcompletely assembled and is then pushed into the recess 13 with theconductor or conduit 16 arranged in the lateral or side recess 15 of thebody. In this movement, the spring or wedge member 42 is bowed ordeflected upwardly at its center, its end corners or edges scrapingalong the side of the recess 13 as the lighter unit is forced home.Thereafter, the corners or edges of the spring member 42 wedgingly andpermanently engagethe sides of the recess to preventwithdrawal of theunit, as may be observed particularly in Fig. 5.

It will be manifest that the lighter when arranged, as shown in Fig. l,is inoperative because the circuit is broken between the weight orgravity member 32 and the part 38 of the bracket. When, however, thelighter is lifted and-inverted into the position shown in Fig. 2, theweight 32 moves down into contact with the bracket part 38 closing thedelivery circuit and heating the coil 22 for use. 7

While the heating unit has been hereinbefore described as incorporatedin a cigar or cigarette lighter, it willbe readily apparent that it maybe employed for otherpurposes and since it is capable of first assemblyin a complete self-contained entity, it may be separately manufacturedand sold. 7 r I It is thought that. thisinvention and many of itsattendant advantages will be understood from the foregoing description,and it will be apparent that various changes may be made in the form,.construction and arrangement of the 'parts without departing from thespirit and scope of, theinvention or sacrificing all of its materialadvantages, the form hereinbefore described being merely a preferredembodiment thereof.

I claim:

1. An electric lighter for cigars, cigarettes, etc., comprising, incombination, a body having a supporting base and a recess extendingupwardly from the base in the said body, and a lighter unit mounted insaid recess and including a porcelain insulating carrier, a conductorrod supported by saidcarrier, a gravity member on said conductor rodnormally arranged in inoperative position, and a circuit completingbracket carried by said carrier and arranged upon opposite sides of saidgravity member and for engagement by said gravity member to complete thelighting circuit upon inversion of said lighter.

2. An electric cigar lighter comprising in combination, a housing, and alighter unit mounted in said housing, with said unit comprising aninsulating member extending upwardlyinto said housing, a heating coilcarried by said member at one end, a pair of conducting rods secured toopposite ends of said heating coil, with one of said rods supportedcentrally of said insulating member and out of contact with the other, aU- shaped circuit completing bracket with one leg thereof mounted on theinsulating member and normally out of electrical contact with said firstrod, an electrical circuit connection with said a bracket, and a secondconnection with the second conducting rod, a gravity member slidableupon said first rod and adapted to contact a second leg of the bracketopposite the first upon inversion of the lighter whereby to complete acircuitv through the heating coil and conducting rods.

3. An electric cigar lighter comprising in combination, a body having asupporting base and a recess extending upwardly in the body from thebase, and a lighter unit mounted in said recess,v with said unitcomprising an insulating member extending upwardly into the recess, aconducting rod carried centrally in said insulating member, a secondconducting rod carried in said member out of contact with the first rod,a metal collar on the outside of said member but in contact with thesecond rod, a U-shaped-circuit-completing bracket carried by one legthereof on top of the insulating member, a gravity member slidablycarried on said first rod between said legs of the: V

bracket, a heating coil mounted on the insulating member connected ateach end to a conducting rod, a two wire conduit with one wire connectedto said bracket and the other to the metal collar whereby upon inversionof said lighter, said gravity member will contact the second leg of thebracket and complete a circuit through the rods and coil.

EDGAR M. SORENG.

